Printer, printing system, control method for these printer and printing system, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

To accurately setting a print charge on the basis of a color which is used actually at a stage to print data consisting of a mixture of color data and monochromatic data. It is possible to judge a color designated for printing by detecting color information from drawing processing information converted from the data and storing color designation information on the basis of the detected color information. Accordingly, a printing system is capable of setting a print charge accurately on the judged color.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing system, a control method forthe printing system and a storage medium.

2. Related Background Art

A conventional printing system which prints original data sent from acomputer or the like with a printer poses a problem that the printingsystem deals all the original data as color pages even whenmonochromatic pages and color pages are mixed in the original data. As aresult, the printing system poses a problem that charges for the colorpages are set also for the monochromatic pages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved to solve the above describedproblems and has an object to judge whether each page is a monochromaticpage or a color page.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to calculate aratio between a monochromatic portion and a color portion of originaldata.

The above described ratio is a ratio between a number of color pages anda number of monochromatic pages out of a plurality of pages or a ratiobetween a monochromatic portion area and a color portion area on a page.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a printer;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram descriptive of a configuration of a printingsystem;

FIG. 3 is a diagram descriptive of processing contents of print colordetecting means of the printing system;

FIG. 4 is a diagram descriptive of band processing method;

FIG. 5 is a timing chart at a printing time of the printing system;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram exemplifying a configuration of the printcolor detecting means of the printing system;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overlapped condition of objects;

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a charge table;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a user interface of a printer driver;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the user interface of the printer driver;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a sequence of printing processings;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are flow charts descriptive of an example of aconfiguration of printing jobs;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation unit of a printer;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a setting screen displayed on the operation unitof the printer;

FIG. 15 is a diagram exemplifying a user interface on a charge settingscreen; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a user interface on a charge displayscreen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, description will be made of embodiments of a printing system, acontrol method for the printing system and a storage medium according tothe present invention.

Prior to description of a configuration of the printing system accordingto the embodiment, description will be made first of a configuration ofa laser beam printer with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as a printer towhich the embodiment is preferably applicable. It is needless to saythat the embodiment (sections of an extension memory and an interface)is applicable not only to the laser beam printer but also other typeprinters such as an ink jet printer.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a laser beam printer (LBP) which isan example of printer to which the embodiment is applicable.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes a LBP main unit which receivesand stores input data (character codes and the like), form information,macro instructions and the like supplied from a host computer 3000 (seeFIG. 2) connected outside, creates corresponding character patterns,form patterns and the like according to the information, and formsimages on recording sheets and the like used as recording media.

Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation unit on which operatingswitches, LEDs (light emitting diodes) displays and the like arearranged, and reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer control unitwhich controls the LBP 1500 as a whole and analyzes input data and thelike supplied from the host computer 3000.

This printer control unit 1000 converts mainly the input data into videosignals of corresponding character patterns and form patterns, andoutputs these patterns to a laser driver 1502. The laser driver 1502 isa circuit for driving a laser 1503 and performs ON/OFF switching of alaser beam 1504 emitted from a semiconductor laser 1503 incorrespondence to an input video signal.

The laser beam 1504 is deflected leftward and rightward by a rotatingpolygonal mirror 1505 to scan and expose an electrostatic drum 1506.Accordingly, an electrostatic latent image of the character pattern isformed on the electrostatic drum 1506.

This electrostatic latent image is developed with a developing unit 1507disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to arecording sheet. Used as this recording sheet is a cut sheet which iscontained in a sheet cassette 1508 attached to the LBP 1500, taken intothe apparatus and fed to the electrostatic drum 1506 with a sheetfeeding roller 1509, a conveying roller 1510 and a conveying roller1511.

Furthermore, the LBP 1500 is equipped with at least a card slot (notshown), and configured to allow an option font and a control card for adifferent language system (emulation card) to be connected in additionto a built-in font.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram descriptive of a configuration of a printingsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention. Thisprinting system may consist of a single appliance or a plurality ofappliances so far as the printing system executes a function of thepresent invention. Furthermore, the present invention is needlesslyapplicable also to a system which executes processings through a networksuch as a LAN.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer which isequipped with a CUP 1 for processing a document including a mixture ofdrawings, images, characters, tables (including table calculations) andthe like on the basis of a document processing program or the likestored in a program ROM of a read only memory (ROM) 3, and controlsdevices connected to a system bus 4 collectively with the CPU 1.

The program ROM of the ROM 3 stores a control program for the CPU 1 andthe like, a font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data and the like to beused for the above described document processing, and a data ROM of theROM 3 stores various kinds of data to be used for the documentprocessing and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a random access memory (RAM) which functionsas a main memory, a work area and the like of the CPU 1. Referencenumeral 5 denotes a key board controller (KBC) which controls key inputsfrom a key board 9 and a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls indications on a CRTdisplay (CRT) 10.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC) which controlsaccess to external memories such as a hard disk (HD), a floppy disk (FD)and the like which store a boot program, various kinds of applicationprograms, font data, a user file, edit file and the like.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC) which isconnected to the LBP 1500 by way of a predetermined bidirectionalinterface 21 for executing control processing of communication with theLBP 1500. In addition, the CPU 1 executes development (lusterize)processing of an outline font, for example, of display information seton the RAM 2 to a RAM to enable WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)on a CRT 10.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 opens various kinds of windows registered on thebasis of commands designated by a pointing device (not shown) on the CRT10 and executes various kinds of data processings.

In the LBP 1500, a CPU 12 collectively controls access to various kindsof devices connected to a system bus 15 on the basis of a controlprogram stored in a program ROM of a ROM 13 and the like or a controlprogram stored in the external memory 14 and the like, and outputs avideo signal as output information to a print unit 17 connected by wayof a print unit I/F 16.

Furthermore, the program ROM of the ROM 13 stores a control program andthe like for the CPU 12. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data andthe like which are to be used for generating the above described outputinformation, and the data ROM of the ROM 13 stores information and thelike which are to be used by a host computer 3000 in case of a printerwhich is not equipped with the external memory 14 such as a hard disk.

In this embodiment, each program is configured by a computer systemwhich consists of the CPU 12, the ROM 13 and a RAM 19.

The CPU 12 is configured to be capable of communicating with the hostcomputer 3000 through a input unit so that information and the like inthe LBP 1500 can be informed to the host computer 3000.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory anda work area of the CPU 12, and is configured so that a memory volume ofthe RAM can be extended with an option RAM connected to an additionalport (not shown). Used as the RAM 19 is an NVRAM or the like which isutilized as an output information development area and an environmentdata storage area. An access to the above described external memory 14which is a hard disk (HD), an IC card or the like is controlled with adisk controller (DKC) 20.

The external memory 14 is connected as an option to store the font data,an emulation program, form data and so on. The printing system may beconfigured so that the printing system has at least an external memory14 or more external memories and a plurality of external memories 14storing an option font card, a program interpreting PDL of a differentlanguage system can be connected in addition to a built-in font.Furthermore, the printing system may be configured to have anon-volatile memory 22 which stores printer mode setting informationfrom the operation unit 1501, for example, default sheet feedingcassette location, sleep time setting, print number information and thelike.

In the printing system according to the embodiment which is configuredas described above, image data (or document data) created by the hostcomputer 3000 is stored into the RAM 19 by way of the input section 18as input data 300 (see FIG. 3) which is converted by a printer driveinstalled in the host computer 3000 into PDL recognizable with the LBP1500. While referring to the ROM 13, the CPU 12 consecutively analyzesthe input data 300 stored in the RAM 19 and converts the input data intoan intermediate code consisting of a plurality of display lists 33having widths of 16, 32 and 48 bits (see FIG. 3) or a bit map memorysuited for print processing. The display lists 33 contain information ofa location, a size and the like predetermined for drawing, for example,“a character “A” is to be printed at a location of “X, Y” in a size of“Z””.

At a step to store the character data and the image data into the RAM19, the RAM 19 which has so far been used as a page memory is dividedinto two page memories, which are defined as a character area and animage area respectively. When creating the intermediate code, a codeobtained by developing the character data and a code obtained bydeveloping the image data are stored in the respective areas of the RAM19 on the basis of headers of the character data and the image data.

The RAM 19 generally has a memory area for a page and the division intothe character area and the image area does not require addition of amemory, but when the printing system is operating in a memory savingmode for band processing, it is necessary to add a new memory 19.

A drawing unit 23 is configured by an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) which consecutively reads and analyzes the intermediatecode stored in the RAM 19 by DMA (direct memory access) on the basis ofa drawing command from the CPU 12, thereby performing drawingprocessing. A register such as a print result register 38 (see FIG. 3)exists in the drawing unit 23.

Furthermore, a charge unit 30 receives charge information for setting acharge for printing of the image data by way of a charge unit I/F 31 andholds this information.

(First embodiment)

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, description will be made of a printingsystem according to a first embodiment.

At a stage where a printer control unit 1000 receives at a certaindegree the input data 300 which is input from the input unit 18, theprinter control unit divides a page into several areas (referred to asbands) and performs a drawing processing for each band. This method isreferred to as a band processing method which is known well as a methodpermits saving the RAM 19. When a large amount of data is to beprocessed, however, a page is processed as a whole without carrying outthis method.

First, the CPU 12 divides the input data 300 into pages and creates thedisplay lists 33 in a band unit. The display lists 33 containinformation predetermined for drawing and color attribute units 34 forstoring color information are prepared in several display lists 33.

Colors to be used for printing are expressed using four colors of Y, M,C and K (Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and black). At least one of Y, M and C isused in case of color print, whereas only K is used in case ofmonochromatic print.

When the input data includes a color print page, a display list iscreated for each of Y, M, C and K. Color information is stored in thecolor attribute units 34 of the display lists by a method (35) whichdesignates a color by disposing an attribute flag for each of Y, M, Cand K, a monochromate/color flag designation method (36) which judgesmonochromatic print or color print by disposing monochromate and colorflags, a method (37) which designates colors with color codesrepresenting color conditions or the like.

The CPU 12 passes the display lists 33 for a created band to the drawingunit 23.

According to a rule such as the color information stored in the displaylists 33 passed from the CPU 12, the drawing unit 23 draws images oneach line and develops a result in the RAM 19.

When the drawing unit 23 completes drawing processing for a band, theCPU 12 transmits a drawing result from the RAM 19 to a print unit 17 byway of a print unit I/F 16 and the print unit 17 performs printing onthe basis of the drawing result.

The above described processings are repeated for each band to printimages on a page. Though the first embodiment is configured to select aband as a printing range, a printing range may be arbitrarily selected.

Upon completing print on the page, print result information indicating acolor of the print is stored in a record register content of print unit38 disposed in the drawing unit 23 on the basis of color informationwhich is stored in a color attribute unit 34 of the display lists 33 anddesignated by the any one of a color attribute flag 35, the monochromateflag/color flag method 36 or the attribute code method 37. For example,when at least one of Y, M and C or color information indicating a colorprint is stored in the color attribute unit 34 of the display lists 33even once on a page, print result information indicating a color printis stored into the record register content of print unit 38.

The CPU 12 sends the print result information stored in the recordregister content of result 38 to a changing setting process unit 39 andthe record register content of print result is cleared.

Furthermore, the CPU 12 may be configured to store the print resultinformation on the basis of the color information not upon completing ofthe print on a page but upon completing a print processing of a colorout of Y, M, C and K on the basis of the color information stored in thecolor attribute unit 34, and send the print result information to thechanging setting process unit 39. In this case, the print resultinformation in the record register content of print result 38 is clearedeach time one of Y, M, C and K is printed.

Though the first embodiment is configured to have the record registercontent of print result 38 which is used for all Y, M, C and Kcollectively, a record register content of print result may be used foreach color.

Though the first embodiment is configured to store the print resultinformation in the record register content of print result 38, theprinting system may be configured to store the color information in therecord register content of print result and judge a print color on thebasis of the color information.

The changing setting process unit 39 judges and sets a color printcharge or a monochromatic print charge on the basis of the print resultinformation received from the record register content of print unit 38.

Furthermore, the printing system may be configured to judge and setusing any one of four kinds of charge setting methods which sets amonochromatic print charge when any one of Y, M, C and K is used, adichromatic print charge when two colors are used, a trichromatic printcharge when three colors are used and a color print charge when fourcolors are used.

Though the first embodiment is configured to judge and assess a chargewith the changing setting process unit 39, the printing system may beconfigured to judge and assess a charge with the CPU 12 on the basis ofthe print result information stored in the record register content ofprint result 38 and transmit a judged result to the changing settingprocess unit 39.

The printing system according to the first embodiment which holdsinformation of a color used for printing in the record register contentof print unit 38 as described above is capable of judging whether eachpage is a monochromatic page or a color page and setting a reasonablecharge in accordance with the judgement.

(Second embodiment)

FIG. 5 is a timing chart descriptive of a second embodiment.

The second embodiment is configured not to read out the colorinformation stored in the color attribute unit 34 of the display list 33but to acquire the color information by monitoring a print signal sentfrom the print unit I/F 16 to the print unit 17.

The timing chart shown in FIG. 5 describes a method which repeats aprinting operation four times for printing in four colors Y, M, C and K.A principle remains unchanged for a tandem type color printing whichprints the four colors at a time.

When preparations are made for printing, a printer control unit 1000 ofan LBP 1500 sets an nPRINT signal 40 “true” for the print unit 17 andoutputs VCLK44 which is a data synchronizing signal. Upon receiving thenPRINT signal 40, the print unit 17 sets “true” an nTOP signal 41 whichis a vertical synchronizing signal and an nLYSNC signal 43 which is ahorizontal synchronizing signal at definite intervals.

From a time when the nTOP signal is set “true”, the printer control unit1000 counts the nLSYNC signals 43 and outputs a video signal nVDO (Nbits wide) 42 from a preset write start position to execute drawing ofan image.

In order to monitor whether or not the image is printed in the colors Y,M, C and K, the second embodiment monitors whether or not the nVDOsignal 42 is set “true” during printing in each color.

In other words, in order to monitor whether or not an nVDO signal 50 ofN bits is varied in synchronization with a data synchronizing signalVCLK 56, a logical sum of the nVDO signal 50 is calculated with an ORcircuit, a signal 55 of a calculation result is latched by a latchcircuit 52 at each VCLK signal 56 and a signal 57 of a latch result isoutput to a sense port/register 53 as shown in FIG. 6. By reading theabove described sense port/register 53 with a module disposed in theprint unit I/F 16, it is possible to confirm whether or not a color isprinted at a stage of an operation to print one of Y, M, C and K colors.The above described module may not be disposed in the print unit I/F 16,but connected to the print unit I/F.

The latch circuit 52 may be reset at a fall (an edge set true) of a downedge/reset signal 51 or a reset signal may be output from the CPU 12 atan identical timing.

The printing system according to the second embodiment is capable ofconfirming what color is used for printing by reading the senseport/register 53 into which a print signal is input as described above.

Upon completing print of one of the Y, M, C and K colors, the CPU 12reads the sense port/register 53 with the module disposed in the printunit I/F 16 and sends print result information to the changing settingprocess unit.

Though the second embodiment is described as an example where the senseport/register is reset for each color, the printing system may beconfigured to use the sense port/register 53 or the latch circuit 52 foreach color and read the sense port/register 53 with the module disposedin the print unit I/F 16 upon completing print on a page so that printresult information of Y, M, C and K is sent collectively to the changingsetting process unit 39. The print result information indicates colorprint when the information uses at least one of Y, M and C ormonochromatic print when the information uses only “K”.

On the basis of the print result information read from the senseport/register 53, the changing setting process unit 39 judges and sets acolor print charge or a monochromatic print charge.

The printing system may be configured to set a charge by judging one offour methods which set a monochromatic print charge when one of the Y,M, C and K colors is used, a dichromatic print charge when two colorsare used for print, a trichromatic print charge when three colors areused for print and a color print charge when four colors are used forprint.

Though the second embodiment is configured to judge a kind of chargeassessment with the changing setting process unit 39, the printingsystem may be configured to judge a kind of charge assessment with theCPU 12 on the basis of a read result of the sense port/register 53 andsend a judged result to the changing setting process unit 39.

(Third embodiment)

A third embodiment will be described as an example where a charge is setdependently on a size occupied by a color print area on a page as awhole using the display list 33 in the printing system according to theabove embodiment.

When data is to be created for drawing an object “A” as shown in FIG. 4,the drawing unit 23 reads the display list 33 from the RAM 19, analyzescontent of the display list 33 and draws the object in a designated size(height and width) from a start point which is designated in an XYdirection taking a band origin point (starting point of a band) as areference. Not the band origin point but a sheet origin point or thelike may be taken as a reference. When the drawing unit 23 judges thatcolor information of a color print is stored in the color attribute unit34 of the read display list 33, the CPU 12 writes information of alocation and a size (height and width) of an image stored in the displaylist 33 into an area designated in the RAM 19.

Though the third embodiment is configured so that the drawing unit 23judges whether input data is color data or monochromatic data on thebasis of the color information stored in the color attribute unit 34 ofthe display list 33 and writes the information on the location and thesize of the image stored in the display list 33 to the designated areain the RAM 19 to lessen a processing load on the CPU 12, the printingsystem may be configured so that the CPU 12 writes the size and thelocation of the image stored in the display lists 33 at a creation timeor a processing time of the display lists 33.

Generally speaking, an object is roughly classified into two kinds: onebeing a bit map image which is a color image of itself and the otherbeing an image consisting of overlapped “backgroundinformation”+“character information” as shown in FIG. 4. Since both theimages have an identical object size, however, information of a locationand size of the bit map image are written into the display lists 33 withno modification or the “background information” of the overlapped imagewhich is a color print area is written into the display lists 33.

Furthermore, the object “A” which is a color character consists of acombination of three colors of Y, M and C (or may consist of Y, M, C andK). When the color information is designated by a method which disposesa flag (35) for each color in the color attribute units 34 of thedisplay lists 33, the drawing unit 23 must process the display lists 33for each color and add sizes. Therefore, the drawing unit 23 writes sizeand location information over the RAM 19 each time it processes thedisplay lists 33 for each color or performs a processing for no write ofthe information when identical location information is stored in thedisplay lists 33. Furthermore, the color information may be stored inthe color attribute unit 34 of a display list for a color only out of Y,M and C when the CPU 12 creates the display lists 33 which haveidentical location information.

When objects are overlapped with each other as shown in FIG. 7,overlapped portions are not recorded on the basis of the locationinformation in the display lists 33.

This processing is repeated for each of the display lists 33, additionprocessing is repeated for each band, and upon completing processing fora page, a ratio of a color print area is calculated from a size of thepage and the area of the color print area. Alternately, the printingsystem may be configured to calculate a ratio of a color print area ineach band from height and width information of a band and a resultobtained by adding the color information in the display lists 33, andfinally calculate a ratio of a color print area on the page as a whole.

The third embodiment judges a ratio of a color charge by comparing theratio of added color print areas with a charge table preliminarilystored in the ROM 13 or the RAM 19. Description will be made of thecharge table in which print charges are set with reference to FIG. 8. Anexample shown in FIG. 8 has a charge system corresponding to print modes(color/monochromatic). Furthermore, the charge table is set so as toassess dependently on a ratio of a color print area, or “10%” of a colorcharge (¥40 in case of FIG. 8) in case of “0 to 5%”.

From a result obtained by comparing a color print area with the chargetable, the third embodiment creates charge setting information to set acharge for image data printing. The third embodiment sends the createdcharge setting information to the charge unit 30 by way of the chargeunit I/F 31 and the charge unit 30 holds the charge setting information.The charge setting information may be stored in the RAM 19 or thenon-volatile memory 22.

Furthermore, it is possible to send the charge setting information tothe host computer 3000 by way of the input unit 18 on the basis of aninstruction from the host computer 3000. The charge setting informationcan be sent by way of a network.

The third embodiment calculates a ratio occupied by a color print areaon a print sheet as a whole from the color information stored in thecolor attribute unit 34 of the display list 33 as described above,thereby being capable of assessing a charge dependently on a color printarea.

(Fourth embodiment)

A printer driver is usually disposed preliminarily in the externalmemory 11 of the host computer 3000. The printer driver is softwarewhich creates the input data 300 by converting image data into PDL whichis analyzable with the LBP 1500 at a stage to transmit image dataincluding a writing and a figure created with an application device onthe host computer 3000 to the LBP 1500. Using such a user interface asthat shown in FIG. 9, the printer driver is displayed in a format foreasy understanding by a user. The printer driver is specified, forexample, to have an N up print select section 701 on a page layout setscreen 700 which allows the user to select a number of pages to beprinted on a sheet as shown in FIG. 10.

When an N up print is designated with the N up print select section withthe N up print select section 701, the printer driver creates the inputdata 300 by modifying a layout for the image data into a format for theN up print and converting the image data into PDL, and transmits theinput data 300 to the LBP 1500. Accordingly, no information for judgingthat data for N pages is collected on a sheet is not originally sentfrom the printer driver to the LBP 1500.

In the fourth embodiment, description will be made of a case where imagedata in which a monochromatic data and a color page are mixed is printedwith a function of the N up print in the printing system according tothe above described embodiment.

Referring to a flow chart shown in FIG. 11, description will be made ofa sequence of operations which are performed by the printer driver whenthe N up print is designated in the fourth embodiment.

At step S91, the printer driver judges whether or not the N up print isdesignated. When the printer driver judges that the N up print is notdesignated, the printer driver terminates processing at step 95.

When the printer driver judges that the N up print is designated at thestep S91, the printer driver judges a number of color print pages on asheet while analyzing image data and modifying a layout at step S92. Onthe basis of a judged result, the printer driver creates the input data300 by converting the image data into the PDL.

An N up command informs N up print information and the number of colorpages. “ESC N:4; MONO: 1; COLO; 3” can be conceived as an example. Thismeans that a monochromatic print page and three color print pages arecontained on a sheet for the N up print of four pages/sheet.

At step S93, the input data 300 is sent to the LBP 1500 for each sheetand the N up command is informed to the LBP 1500.

At step S94, the printer driver judges whether or not a page is a lastpage in the image data. When the page is not the last page, the printerdriver returns to the step S92 and repeats the above describedprocessing. When the page is the last page, the printer driver proceedsto the step S95 to terminate the processing.

Then, description will be made of a configuration of print jobs withreference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.

A first job consists of print instructions arranged in a predeterminedorder of instruction blocks and has a configuration of a start jobinstruction, set up print environment instruction, print first sheetinstruction (assign character and drawing, set location, paper dischargeand the like) and job end instruction.

While the printer driver sends the input data 300 while analyzing theimage data, the N up command peculiar to the fourth embodiment is sentto the LBP 1500 before a first sheet is discharged as shown in FIG. 12B.

When the LBP 1500 receives the N up command by way of the input unit 18during a print processing, the LBP 1500 stores the N up command into theRAM 19. Upon completing the print processing, the LBP 1500 calculates acharge on the basis of a charge calculating formula preliminarily storedin the ROM 13 while referring to charge information. Conceivable as thecharge calculating formula stored in the ROM 13 is, for example, “acharge for a color page×a number of color print pages÷N+a charge for amonochromatic page×a number of monochromatic print pages÷N”.

The LBP 1500 sends a result of a calculated charge to the charge unit 30by way of the charge unit I/F 31. Alternately, the LBP 1500 stores theresult in the non-volatile memory 22 such as an NVRAM and transfers theresult according to a request from the host computer 3000.

The fourth embodiment is configured so that the printer driver sendsinformation of color pages included in N pages (the N up command) to theLBP 1500 (printing apparatus) at a stage of the N up print for eachprint sheet as described above, thereby being capable of assessing acharge dependently on a ratio between a number of color print pages anda number of monochromatic print pages included on a print sheet.

(Fifth embodiment)

Description will be made of a fifth embodiment where a charge table isnot fixed but can be rewritten by reading the charge table stored in thedata ROM 13 in the above described printing system into the non-volatilememory 22 constituted by NVRAM or the like at the time of activation ofpower supply or as necessary, and using the non-volatile memory 22 asthe reference area referred to by the data ROM of the ROM 13.

When the ROM 13 is composed of a non-volatile ROM such as a flash ROM,an empty area of the flash ROM or a predetermined are may be used inplace of the non-volatile memory 22. Furthermore, the charge tablestored in the non-volatile memory 22 may be developed in the RAM 19 sothat the charge table is referred to in the RAM 19.

Description will be made of the operation unit 1501 with reference toFIG. 13. An online lamp <1> displays a communication condition betweenthe LBP 1500 and the host computer 3000. An LED stays lit whilecommunication is possible. A print available lamp <7> also stays lit inthis condition.

A double side lamp <2> indicates that double page print is possible. Adischarge button <4> is to be depressed for printing data which is notoutput but accumulated in the LBP 1500 in order to prevent a conditionwhere data transmission to the LBP 1500 is intercepted in the course ofprint, whereby the LBP 1500 cannot judge a page end and data is stacked.A sheet feed select button <3> is used for selecting a cassette fromwhich sheets are to be fed. A sheet feeding cassette selected by a sheetfeed select button <4> is indicated by an LED <5> which is lit. A joblamp <6> glows to indicate that a print job is being received. A messagelamp <8> glows when an error message is displayed on a print availabledelivery tray <9>. Various kinds of settings are made using a utilitybutton (10), a reset/go button (12), an operation mode button (11), asetup button (13) and the like.

Referring to FIG. 14, description will be made of operations forcreating the charge table for setting a charge using the operation unit1501 on a side of the LBP 1500.

First, a menu for charge setting is displayed on a print availabledelivery tray <9> by manipulating the buttons (10) through (13) shown inFIG. 13. Operations for creating the charge table for assessing chargesare generally to be carried out by a serviceman or a manager.Accordingly, a certification is to be made by inputting a personalidentification number (11 in FIG. 14). Furthermore, it is possible toprevent access to the menu for charge assessment from being made bygeneral users when the menu for charge assessment is configured not as amenu to be displayed to the general users but as a hidden menu.

Then, a charge select area is set (12 in FIG. 14). A charge ratiobetween color print and monochromatic print is selected at 19 in FIG.14. This area indicates a ratio between a charge for color print and acharge for monochromatic print, for example, a cost of ¥10 for themonochromatic print and a cost of ¥50 for the color print. Other detailscan be set on a screen for setting the charge select area.

Finally, the menu for charge setting is terminated by depressing anexecute button at “charge setting maintained” (20 in FIG. 14).

The charge table which is set by the above described operations isaccumulated in the RAM 19 each time the table is set. Upon completingthe charge setting, the charge table accumulated on the RAM 19 is storedinto the non-volatile memory 22.

When the charge table is reset, the charge table stored in thenon-volatile memory 22 is deleted and a default charge table stored inthe ROM 13 is written into the non-volatile memory 22. The printingsystem may be configured not to delete the charge table but write acharge table over the charge table.

Referring to FIG. 15 on the other hand, description will be made ofoperations for creating a charge table for setting charges by using theprinter driver on a side of the host computer 3000.

A charge set screen 1300 is displayed by way of the printer driver whichis preliminarily installed in the host computer 3000. Since charges areset by the serviceman or the manager, the charge set screen 1300 is notdisplayed so far as a log or a password is not input into the hostcomputer 3000.

The charge set area 1301 sets whether or not a charge table ismodifiable with the LBP 1500. A charge amount designation area 1302 setsa unit (area, kind or N up) which is to be used for setting a colorcharge rate. A charge proportion designation area 1303 determines a costratio between color print and monochromatic print. A charge setting filedesignation area 1304 designates a location of a setting file whichdescribes contents of the charge table.

When the charges setting is completed and an OK button 1305 ismanipulated, the printer driver sends a charge table rewrite instructionto the LBP 1500 by way of the PRTC 8 using a command peculiar to the LBP1500. This charge table rewrite instruction may be sent by way of thePRTC8 or using a network port (not shown).

The LBP 1500 stores the charge table rewrite instruction once into theRAM 19 by way of the input section 18, and the CPU 12 interprets thecharge table rewrite instruction using a processing program stored inthe ROM 13 and rewrites the charge table stored in the non-volatilememory 22.

Referring to FIG. 16, description will be made of a method to acquirecharge information from the LBP 1500 using the printer driver in thehost computer 3000.

First, an LBP 1500 from which charge information is to be acquired isselected in a printer display area 1403. When a charge informationacquisition (A) button 1401 is depressed, processing for acquiring thecharge information is executed for the LBP 1500 selected in the printerdisplay area 1403. Specifically, a charge information acquisitioninstruction is sent to the LBP 1500 by way of the PRTC 8 or a networkport.

When a charge information clear (C) button 1402 is depressed, theprinter driver sends a charge information clear instruction to a printerselected in the printer display area 1403. The LBP 1500 stores thecharge information clear instruction into the RAM 19 by way of the inputunit 18, and the CPU 12 interprets the charge information clearinstruction using the ROM 13 and clears the charge information which isstored in the charge unit 30 by way of the charge unit I/F 31.

The LBP 1500 stores the charge information acquisition instruction intothe RAM 19 by way of the input unit 18, and the CPU 12 interprets thischarge information acquisition instruction using the ROM 13, acquiresthe charge information stored in the charge unit 30 by way of the chargeunit I/F 31 and stores the charge information into the RAM 19. The CPU12 sends the charge information stored in the RAM 19 to the hostcomputer 3000 by way of the input unit 18 together with a chargeinformation sending instruction to the host computer 3000.

The fifth embodiment is capable of modifying the charge table held bythe LBP 1500 for setting charges using the operation unit 1501 of theLBP 1500 or the user interface displayed on the charge set reset display10 of the host computer 3000. Accordingly, the fifth embodiment allows amanager of the printing system to flexibly modify charge settings.

(Other embodiments)

The present invention may be applied to a system which consists of aplurality of appliances (for example, a host computer, an interfaceappliance, a reader, a printer and the like) or an apparatus whichconsists of a single appliance.

Furthermore, an apparatus or a system which supplies software programcodes for realizing functions of the above described embodiments to acomputer in the apparatus or the system which is connected to variouskinds of devices to operate the above described various kinds of devicesso as to realize the functions of the above described embodiments andoperates the above described various kinds of devices according to aprogram stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or thesystem is also included within a scope of the present invention.

In this case, the above described software program codes realize thefunctions of the above described embodiments by themselves, and theprogram codes themselves and means for supplying the program codes to acomputer, for example, storage medium storing the program codes composethe present invention. Usable as the storage medium for storing suchprogram codes is, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an opticaldisk, a photomagnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatilememory card, a ROM or the like.

Not only in a case where the functions described in the above describedembodiments are realized with a computer which executes supplied programcodes but also in a case where the functions of the above describedembodiments are realized by the program codes in cooperation with an OS(operating system), application software or the like which is operatingin a computer, the program codes are needlessly included in theembodiments of the embodiments of the present invention.

Furthermore, an apparatus or a system which stores supplied programcodes into a memory disposed on a function extension board of a computeror in function extension unit connected to a computer, performs some orall of actual processings with a CPU or the like used on the functionextension board or the function extension unit and realizes thefunctions of the above described embodiments by the processings is alsoincluded within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing system for printing data, comprising:a converter, arranged to convert the data into drawing processinginformation; a detector, arranged to detect color information regardinga color from the drawing processing information; storage arranged tostore the color information; and accounting means for accounting aprinting charge on a basis of the color information stored in saidstorage.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the colorinformation is detected by said detector from the drawing processinginformation which is converted into a video signal.
 3. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the color information is any one of a flagindicating a color component, a flag indicating monochromatic/color anda code indicating a color condition.
 4. The system according to claim 1,wherein the data is converted into a plurality of items of drawingprocessing information, and said storage stores color informationcontained in the drawing processing information.
 5. The system accordingto claim 4, wherein said storage stores the color information for eachof the plurality of items of drawing processing information composing apage of the data.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein saidstorage stores the color information for each sheet on the basis of thecolor information for a plurality of pages contained on a sheet when aplurality of pages are to be printed on a sheet.
 7. The system accordingto claim 1, further comprising communication means for transferringinformation of the printing.
 8. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe printing charge is accounted on the basis of preliminarily setinformation regarding the printing charge.
 9. The system according toclaim 8, wherein the preliminarily set information is modifiable. 10.The system according to claim 9, wherein the preliminarily setinformation is modifiable by an external apparatus.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said detector detects color informationrelated to a color designated for printing the data for each page of thedata.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detector detectscolor information related to a color designated for printing the dataand area information of an area printed using the designated color, andsaid storage stores the color information and the area information. 13.A control method for controlling a printing system for printing data,comprising the steps of: converting the data into drawing processinginformation; detecting color information regarding a color from thedrawing processing information; storing the color information; andaccounting a printing charge on a basis of the color information storedin said storing step.
 14. A storage medium for controlling a printingsystem for printing data, comprising a program for executing: convertingthe data into drawing processing information; detecting colorinformation regarding a color from the drawing processing information;and storing the color information; and accounting a printing charge on abasis of the color information stored in said storing the colorinformation.
 15. A printing system for printing data comprising: adetector arranged to detect color information regarding a color from thedata; storage arranged to, in response to a plurality of pages beingprinted on one sheet, store the color information of each sheet on thebasis of the color information of the plurality of pages included on thesheet; and accounting means for performing accounting for a print chargeon a basis of the color information stored in said storage.
 16. Acontrol method for controlling a printing system for printing datacomprising the steps of: detecting color information regarding a colorfrom the data; storing, in response to a plurality of pages beingprinted on one sheet, the color information of each sheet on the basisof the color information of the plurality of pages included on thesheet; and performing accounting for a print charge on a basis of thecolor information stored in said storing step.
 17. A storage medium forcontrolling a printing system for printing data, comprising a programfor executing a control method of: detecting color information regardinga color from the data; storing, in response to a plurality of pagesbeing printed on one sheet, the color information of each sheet on thebasis of the color information of the plurality of pages included on thesheet; and performing accounting for a print charge on a basis of thecolor information stored in said storing step.